In both ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, ginger is considered the best home remedy for colds. Drink a cup of ginger tea several times
(at least 3 times) a day. Ginger contains a dozen antiviral compounds. And it tastes good.

To make a tea, add 1 heaping teaspoon of grated fresh gingerroot to 1 cup of boiled water. Allow
it to steep for 10 minutes.
If you use dried ginger powder use 1/3 to 1/2 teaspoon of powdered ginger per cup.
Drink warm.

Sip the tea slowly. Don't gulp it down. Swish it around the mouth before swallowing. This helps the liquid to mix with the enzymes in the saliva and rapidly assimilates the herbs into the blood stream.

See
Also:

Herbal Cold
Tea
This herbal tea, one of the best cold remedies, helps handle fever and reduce
achiness, congestion, and inflammation associated with common cold.